The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-11-16

The formal application for the review.
couched in most respectful terms. was
completed about October 26th, bat was
not made public.
On November 10th, l received note
from the Secretary, desiring me to pre-
sent what | had to say upon this
subject. My letter was accordingly
signed and delivered to him on the 18th
instant. with the necessary change of
data and other corrections that had
been made. A copy of the letter is here
with inclosed tor your inspection.
Several important questions were de-
clded in the Omaha cases other than
the one referred to herein, but con-
fined my application for review to the
question of indemnity for lands ex
cluded from the operation of the grant
ing acts" that being of overshadowlng
importance. In presenting this applica-
ton, Informed the Secretary that it
would not be made public unless by
himself. Public attention having now
been called to the matter, l shall feel at
liberty to furnish the press with copy
of this letter, after it has been COM
municated to you and a copy transmit
ted to him. The issue raised by me was
strictly one of law. The presentation
of the issue was strictly in the line of
legal argument. In the letter addressed
to me, that issue is not met and the
effect has been to create an er-
roneous impression, that the issue was
one of authority alone, and that 1
had refused to execute the Secretary's
official orders. This division of the is
sue from the one of legal construction
to one of authority and characterization
is the substitution of force for argu-
ment, diversion ct the public mind
from the merits of the case, and If re-
sisted by me in this presentation to
you. would be a suppression by that
power of a proper and considerable
effort on my part as Commissioner Of
the General Land Office to secure, il the
public interest, an impartial hearing
before the Secretary OF the Interior on
purely legal question, affecting the
administration of the Office with Rhich
| am charged.
The Office of Commissioner of the
General Land Office has been one of in
tense labor and high responsibility.
Having sought it at your hands, have
continued to hold it only out of sense
of and with view of effecting some
good to the public. 1 have endeavored
TO discharge my full duty in the face of
Lid1I duO Gar
jimmy and abuse from those whose ia
terests were to defeat the policies pur-
sued. If these decisions foreshadow
change in the official policy on this SUBJ
ject, knowing well what this will mean
in practical operation, l could not, of
course, with my sense of duty, be the
instrument to effect the change.
Having ever as now, regarded the
commission held as subject to your
recall. and desiring to relieve you OF
any possible embarrassment, herewith
tender you my resignation of the Office
of Commissioner of the General Land
Office, and ask its early acceptance. In
thus severing my connection with your
administration, beg to assure you of
my honest wish that the same wisdom,
frmness and integrity which has thus
far so eminently marked your admins
tration. may continue to enhance you
in the estimation of your countrymen.
Very respectfully,
WILLIAM A J. SPARKS